Observation of cavitation in exocentric T-mixer

- Cavitation phenomenon was observed in T-mixer at liquid injection with high Reynolds numbers.
- Dynamic and static light scattering measurements were applied to measure onset of cavitation.
- Numerical calculations of fluid dynamics supports the cavitation assignment.

Chemical reactors with micromixing of liquids play an important role in the chemical engineering process leading to new materials with an improved functional response. We show that the liquids injection conditions correspondent to low Damköhler numbers may turn from the common liquid phase to unusual biphasic liquid/vapour fluid flow due to the cavitation phenomenon. We propose in-situ physical measurements of the cavitation threshold in the exocentric T-mixer using light scattering method. Numerical calculations support the assignment to cavitation and show its critical relation to the T-mixer geometry.

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